Birdsong field guide
Northern Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
A robust, gull-like procellariiform known for its stiff-winged flight and remarkable longevity, the Northern Fulmar is a true pelagic wanderer of the northern oceans.
What it sounds like
Generally silent at sea, but produces a series of harsh, guttural grunts, cackles, and nasal 'ga-ga-ga' sounds when at breeding colonies.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Defends its nest by projectile-vomiting a foul-smelling, orange stomach oil that can mat the feathers of predatory birds, leading to their death.
- Belongs to the 'tubenose' group, possessing salt glands that excrete excess brine through specialized tubular nostrils on the bill.
- Highly efficient gliders, they use dynamic soaring to travel thousands of miles without flapping, much like their albatross relatives.
- Exhibits extreme longevity for a bird, with some individuals confirmed to live over 50 years in the wild.
- Occurs in two distinct color morphs: a common 'light' phase and a 'dark' or 'blue' phase primarily found in high Arctic colonies.
Habitat
Open ocean (pelagic) for most of the year, nesting on steep, inaccessible coastal cliffs and rocky islands.
Range
North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, ranging from the Arctic south to the British Isles, New England, and Japan.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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